Phytoremediation with Endophytes in Heavy Metal Contaminated Soils

Abstract

Phytoremediation is based on the natural ability of plants to remove chemicals from water, soil and air and is much more economical to implement than conventional decontamination technologies. Endophytes, which enhance the effect of phytoremediation, are microorganisms obtained from healthy plant tissues, do not show any disease symptoms in the host and live symbiotically with the plant. Recent studies have shown that many endophytes are metal resistant and can be successfully used in phytoremediation to enhance plant growth and/or decompose organic matter. While plants on their own have the potential to accumulate metals such as uranium and lead in their roots and shoots, bacterial consortia further enhance metal uptake capacity. Many siderophore-producing endophytes have been reported from various plants and have been reported by researchers to enhance plant growth in poor environments. The binding of siderophore to a metal has been found to increase the soluble metal concentration. Endophytes can also help with the bioremediation of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. It has been reported that the endophytic fungi such as Neotyphodium coenophialum and Neotyphodium uncinatum, were successive to reducing of heavy metal pollution. The aim of this review is to summarize the studies and provide information about the control of the soil by endophytes, which is the basic element of plant production due to environmental pollution, which is one of the most important problems of today, from substances such as heavy metals that are highly persistent and limit the sustainable environment, within a new perspective called phytoremediation.

Keywords

• endophytic microorganisms
• phytostabilization
• phytoextraction
• phytovolatilization
• phytofiltration